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The Factor smokes five furlongs in :58

The Factor's next start is yet to be decided (Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos) Highly-touted three-year-old THE FACTOR (War Front) returned to the worktab Sunday for the first time since his track record-setting maiden conquest, and the Bob Baffert colt again delivered the heat by smoking five furlongs in :58 on Santa Anita's fast main track. "I didn't want him to go that fast," Baffert said. "He went a little too fast -- he got away from the rider (former jockey Joe Steiner)." The Factor posted the same time as four-year-old Grade 1 star Sidney's Candy (Candy Ride [Arg]), the pair tying for the third-best of 52 works at the distance on the day. Sunday's fastest five-furlong drill was by the $50,000 claimer Camp Victory (Forest Camp), who was clocked in :57 2/5 for trainer Carla Gaines.

Long well regarded, The Factor lived up to his billing with an 8 1/4-length maiden romp at Santa Anita on December 26, setting a track record of 1:06.98 for six furlongs. Baffert has not decided where his Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful will turn up next.

"I don't know what I'm going to do -- I'm not saying nothing," Baffert said, somewhat tongue-in-cheek. "I know nothing."

Three other promising sophomores also worked five-eighths for Baffert on Sunday.

Two were colts -- Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) third and recent allowance winner AWESOME PATRIOT (Awesome Again) drilled in 1:00 4/5, while debut maiden victor UNCLE SAM (Tapit) finished up in 1:01 2/5.

Debut maiden-winning filly PLUM PRETTY (Medaglia d'Oro) posted 1:00 3/5. Scratched from Sunday's Santa Ysabel S. (G3), she will instead make her stakes debut in Saturday's Santa Ynez S. (G2). Rafael Bejarano picks up the mount.

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